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Special
Education:
The Myth of Least Restrictive Environment - The idea of
every student being served in the same classroom is very popular
these days. It is the “least restrictive environment” special
education theory that results in students with “accommodations”
being tossed into the same boiling environment as kids who don’t
need them. I like the idea and hate the reality.
Definitions:
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and Special Education Services
The Benefits of Learning in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
- The benefits of learning in the LRE (Least Restrictive
Environment) for children with special needs can be great: increased
motivation, higher self-esteem, improved communication and
socialization skills, and greater academic achievement. While some
children with disabilities will require a special class, the LRE for
most will be in a general education class with appropriate supports
and services – an inclusion class.
Office of Special
Education Programs' IDEA Amendments of 1997 Curriculum:
Module 8 Least Restrictive Environment - In this module you
will find: Overview of LRE, Determining a Student's LRE, LRE and
IDEA 97, State's Obligation including Placement-Neutral Funding,
Supplementary Aids, LRE & General Education, Permissive Use of
Funds, Other Aspects including Participation in Assessments,
Performance Goals and References. Module 8 also includes the
following components, with the text of each provided in separate
files: background text on the statute (explaining the requirements
of the statute passed by Congress in 1997), addendum text on the
regulations (explaining requirements of the final Federal
regulations for IDEA published on March 12, 1999), handouts in
English and handouts in Spanish (revised to incorporate the
regulations), training script (revised to incorporate the
regulations), overheads in English (revised to incorporate the
regulations), and overheads in Spanish (revised to incorporate the
regulations).
U.S. Department of Education's Deaf Students Education Services
Policy Guidance - While this policy guidance specifically
address D/HH students, the legal principles articulated in it are
applicable to all. This policy guidance was authored by Dr.Robert
Davila, who is deaf, when he was an undersecretary in OSERS. Dr.
Davila is Deaf, himself, and he really does get it with respect to
LRE issues.
For more information,
visit the
Least Restrictive
Environment Clearinghouse.
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